Closure



Maly 2.1, 1935. E SEXTON 2,001,980

cLosURE Filed Oct. 7, 1951 Patented May 21, 1935 This invention relatesto an improved closure for `openings of any size, as from small cans tomanhole size or larger. While the invention is capable of embodiment inmany materials `and shapes as well as in different sizes, it may beconveniently illustrated as embodied in a nozzle and removable capsuitable for closing tightly a tin can or the ller for an automobileradiator, gasoline tank, etc.

It is an object of the invention to provide a. nozzle which holds a captightly and eiciently, has no inward projections to diminish the fullopening of the throat of the nozzle, is mechanically strong, and whichcan be made cheaply. In the tin can industry, cans are made in suchlarge numbers and with such a slender margin of prot, that economy inmanufacture is of` prime importance. According to the present inventionI have provided a nozzle which is eflicient in operation, which can berapidly and economically made by automatic machinery, and which isadapted for use in a container for highly volatile liquids which maygenerate considerable pressures in the container and which requirea'gastight closure to prevent escape by evaporation. I have alsoprovided a strong cap for eflicient cooperation with my improved nozzle.

For a more complete understanding ofthe invention, reference may be hadto the disclosure thereof in the description which follows, and on thedrawing, of which,-

Figure 1 is an elevation of a nozzle embodying the invention. v

Figure 2 is a plan View of the same.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of a cap adapted tocooperate with the nozzle illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a diierent form of cap.

A nozzle embodying the invention may consist of a neck I having acylindrical wall which is bent outwardly and downwardly at the top ofthe neck to form a smo-oth lip II, and a downwardly extending skirt I2which encircles the upper portion of the neck. At the bottom of theskirt the edge of the materalis rolled into the form of what is known asa false wire edge, as at I3. This greatly strengthens and stiffens theedge of the skirt. Theentire lower edge of the skirt is preferably butnot necessarily thus rolled. Portions of the rolled edge I3 aredownwardly inclined at a small angle to the horizontal as at I4. At thelower end of the edge I4 is CLosUimA Isaac E. Sexton; Winchester? Mass.YY

Application october 7, 1931,*seri'a1'riofs'zggi, 1

3 Chms ,.(Cl. 22040) I v l PAT al more sharply inclined portion I5Vwhich 'is relatively short ,and which'A terminates in ianf-.up-

wardly inclined portion I6, a part ci which may be attened and pressedin toward the neck, as at I1. The upper end of the portion IS mergeswith the next successive downwardly inclined portion I4. The flattenedportions I'I are adapted to permit the downward passage of lugs 22projecting inwardly from the skirt 2| of a cap 22 which is adapted to tover the nozzle. When the cap is placed on the nozzle, each lug 20passes downwardly over a flattened portion I'I, whereupon the cap may berotated so as to engage the lugs 20 under respective cam portions I4 ofthe rolled edge of the .skirt` I2. Movement of the lugs 20 along theinclined edge portions I4 as the cap is rotated causes the cap to bedrawn down tightly against the lip II. The skirt 2| of the cap ispreferably of such a length that when the lugs 26 have reached theposition indicated at 23 in Figure 1, where further movement of the lugsis prevented by the portions I5 ofthe edge of the skirt I2, the cap istightly clamped on the lip II.

In order to provide an effective seal, a suitable gasket 24 may beprovided Within the cap to rest directly on the lip Il, this gasketbeing of any suitable material or materials such as a resilient disk ofcork, ber, etc., faced, if desired, with metal foil.

In order to strengthen and stiften the cap 22, the lower edge of theskirt below the lugs 2E! may be rolled into a suitable bead as at 25.This reinforces the lugs 20 and obviates exposed sharp edges. Ifdesired, the bead 25 itself may be dented inwardly as at 26 to formlocking lugs to engage under the edges I4.

The nozzle and cap may be made of light weight sheet metal, the rollededges around the bottom of the skirts adding great strength andstiffness to the portion of the nozzle engaged by the lugs on the capfor clamping the 'cap against the lip II, and to the skirt of the cap.Where a light gauge of sheet metal is used in making the cap, the diewhich forms the locking lugs 2D will also draw the adjacent portions ofthe bead 25 upwardly, as shown, thus preventing splitting of the metalin forming the lugs. By flattening portions of the rolled edge of thenozzle skirt, as at I 1, the continuity of this strong rolled edge isunbroken throughout the periphery of its skirt.

While the'invention is illustrated as embodied in a nozzle and cap whichare smaller than the body of the can, it is obvious that the end of acylindrical container can be shaped to embody the invention With a capextending over the full diameter of the container. It is also evidentthat the illustrated features of structure which make possible a stronggas-tight closure with thin metal, will all the more strengthensimilarly made closures of heavier and stronger materials.

Various modifications and changes may be 'made in the specificembodiment of the invention herein described without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A metal container having a cylindrical wall terminating in a mouth,said wall being formed of sheet metal which is turned outwardly anddownwardly at said mouth to form a depending skirt outside of said wall,said skirt being shapedto receive a skirted cap thereon with lugsprojecting inwardly, said skirt having lower edge portions curled toform cam surfaces spaced at predetermined distances from said mouth andadapted to be engaged by said lugs.

2. A metal container having a cylindrical Wall with a depending skirt onthe outside thereof designed to receive a skirted cap thereon withinwardly projecting lugs, said skirt having its entire lower edgecurled, portions of said curled edge being shaped to form cam surfacesto b-e engaged by said lugs, other portions of said curled edge beingattened inwardly toward said wall.

3. In combination, a metal container having a cylindrical wallterminating in a circular mouth and a cylindrical skirt extendingdownwardly from said mouth outside of said wall, said skirt havingspaced edge portions turned outwardly to form cam surfaces radiallyoutward of the outer surface of said skirt, and a skirted cap removablymounted over the mouth of said container, said cap having inwardlyprojecting lugs engaging under said outwardly turned edge portions, theinnermost points of said lugs being spaced from the axis of said wall bya distance not less than the'radius of said cylindrical skirt.

ISAAC E. SEXTON.

